49ers pick Kansas’ Puni in NFL draft
LAWRENCE — Kansas football saw Dominick Puni selected in the 2024 NFL draft on Friday in the third round with the 86th overall selection, making him the program's highest draft pick since 2008.
Puni, who spent the past couple of seasons as a starter for the Jayhawks as an offensive lineman, saw his draft stock rise throughout the pre-draft process. Whether he was seen as a tackle or interior prospect, he entered it with extensive experience at both — guard in 2022 and tackle in 2023. After transferring in from Division II-level Central Missouri, he showcased he could be reliable at the Division I level in a variety of roles and became an All-Big 12 Conference honoree.
"Congratulations (Puni)!" KU head coach Lance Leipold said in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. "We're very proud of you and excited to watch you begin your NFL career with the 49ers!"
At the next level, Puni's responsibility could very well be in the interior. But his positional versatility has outlined that he could be relied upon for more than just that. He's also shown that he can remain healthy with varying responsibilities.
Puni helped Kansas make back-toback bowl games in 2022 and 2023. The team's resurgence had a lot to do with its ability to protect the quarterback, and he had a large part in making that happen. Now it's time to see if he can translate that to the next level in the same way he made the jump up from Division II to Division I, which won't be an easy task.
"I just want to say thank you, first of all, to Kansas, everything you guys have done for me, the support, the staff the football team," Puni said in a video the KU football team posted on its X account. "Just finish it off by saying 49ers, can't wait to get there. (California), it's a beautiful spot. Let's go 49ers. Come on."
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
Kansas State offensive lineman KT Leveston took the first step toward an NFL career Saturday when he was picked by the Los Angeles Rams with the No. 254 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft.
He returned to the Wildcats as a fifth-year super-senior in 2023 and it paid off as he became the third K-State player selected.
Here's what Leveston brings to Rams, based on his career with Kansas State.
What KT Leveston brings to the Los Angeles Rams in the 2024 NFL draft
K-State coaches marveled at Leveston's growth in maturity and work
ethic over his Wildcat career. He became the full-time starter at left tackle in 2022, which allowed All-American Cooper Beebe to move inside to his more natural left guard spot. Leveston also transformed himself into a vocal respected team leader.
Leveson saw action in 50 games during his career with 32 starts, including a streak of 27 starts over the final two seasons. He was invited to the NFL Draft Combine as well as the 2024 East-West Shrine Game.
KT Leveston’s highlights, strengths, weaknesses at Kansas State football
Leveston was a key figure on an offense that ranked in the top 30 nationally in 11 categories, including 10th in scoring with 37.1 points per game and 11th in rushing with 204.1 yards.
He is an explosive run blocker who can get to the second level. As a pass protector he may be better suited to play guard in the NFL, where he may struggle against quicker, faster and stronger edge rushers.
KT Leveston’s stats with Kansas State football
Leveston, a first-team Academic Big 12 selection, will not hurt the line with silly mistakes. He was not penalized in 909 snaps in 2023 and just once in his last two seasons. After allowing five sacks in 2022, he gave up just two this past season.
KT Leveston player comparison NFL
Leveston has been compared to former NFL guard Jamon Brown, who was drafted out of Louisville by the then-St. Louis Rams in 2015 and also played for the New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles.
Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.